HOUSES in, or close to, this year’s Village of the Year could attract bumper prices, estate agents have claimed.

Idyllic Cockfield, which is between Bury St Edmunds and Lavenham, saw off tough competition from Bardwell and Worlingworth to claim the coveted title just over a week ago.

But along with the �1,000 prize money, every village resident could see the value of their home increase by several thousand pounds as people flock to the area.

One estate agent from William H Brown in Bury St Edmunds said previous winners had already seen prices in their villages increase.

“Walsham le Willows has won a few times and houses do generally go for more in that area. In Cockfield I would say that it would not put a huge amount on the price, but around two or three thousand pounds. What it will do is draw more interest from outside the area - the title proves that Cockfield is a good village to live in.”

An agent for Bedfords in Bury St Edmunds agreed that interest in the area would be increased by the title and the extra exposure the village has received.

“It will up the profile of the village and the surrounding area, you are much more likely to get people wanting to have a look.”

He added that “competitive interest” could see property prices climb.

But Alan Morgan, clerk of Cockfield Parish Council, said it would take more than money to make him leave the village.

“We always knew that Cockfield was a great place to live and the Village of the Year title shows that.”

He added: “I have lived everywhere in England and I am now 66-years-old - I’m not going anywhere. One of my jobs is to maintain the cemetery and I have got a plot with my name on it.”

Cockfield is the second geographically largest village in Suffolk and is scattered cross several hamlets, grouped around eight pristine greens and its 14th Century church.

The village’s 85-page submission, along with the work carried out by a raft of people in the community, helped to persuade the judges to give the award to Cockfield.

The Suffolk village of the year competition, which is sponsored by the East Anglian Daily Times, the Suffolk magazine, UK Power Networks, Adnams and BBC Radio Suffolk, is organised by Suffolk Association of Local Councils, the county and district councils.

An award ceremony is planned for November 17.